On request by the Myanmar Government, NB had tailor-made the five-day course for the officers - three police captains and two lieutenants.

Speaking at the opening of the course, NB Acting Chief Superintendent, Mr Philip Sham Wai-kin, pointed out that all the course participants are very experienced in anti-narcotics work.

"It is not a question of the participants learning from us because they already have more than 20 years' experience in anti-drugs work. As a matter of fact, the course will provide us with a good opportunity to share experience with them, and to build up a network with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat international drug trafficking," he noted.

One of the police captains, Mr Khin Maung Tun, echoed Mr Sham's views on experience sharing, and said that their visit would further strengthen co-operation between Myanmar and Hong Kong in anti-drugs work.

On conclusion of the course, Mr Tun said: "I must say that I myself and my colleagues are very impressed with what your Narcotics Bureau is doing in combating the narcotic problems. We also appreciate very much your methadone treatment programme for drug addicts.

"Of course, we have benefited from the course, and from our visits to other law enforcement agencies and drug treatment centres in Hong Kong, and this will be very useful to our anti-drugs work," he added.

Contents of the course mainly consisted of anti-drugs strategies, management of information, investigation techniques, planning of operations and prosecution preparations.

The course participants had also visited the Government Laboratory, the Customs and Excise Department and the courts of law.

The Force always aims to build up a network with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat international drug trafficking